Cambridge 19 Listening Test 1 - Answers With Explanation

1. The blank in 'The park — Area: ___ hectares' needs a number naming the park's total size. The answer is 69 (also accept the spelled-out form 'sixty-nine'), matching the instruction to write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER — expect the guide to state the total area as a figure early on when introducing the park.

2. The note lists wetland features: 'lakes, ponds and a ___'. The missing word is a singular noun for another type of water feature — 'stream' completes the list logically alongside lakes and ponds, fitting grammatically after 'a'.

3. Under Science, the note says children look at ___ 'about plants, etc.' The answer 'data' is the noun that fits before 'about plants' — a school-science activity of collecting and studying data, distinguishing it from a vaguer word that wouldn't match the one-word limit as cleanly.

4. Geography 'includes learning to use a ___ and compass'. The missing noun pairs naturally with 'compass' as a navigation tool — 'map' is the expected single word, listen for it named alongside 'compass' when the speaker describes the geography activities.

5. Leisure and tourism 'mostly concentrates on the park's ___'. The answer 'visitors' is a plural noun completing the phrase — this subject looks at how the park serves the people who come to it, as opposed to its wildlife or geography, which are covered under other subjects.

6. Music: 'children make ___ with natural materials, and experiment with rhythm and speed'. The plural noun 'sounds' fits what children create using natural materials, distinct from 'music' itself since the blank needs to pair with 'make'.

7. Under benefits, outdoor visits 'give children a feeling of ___ that they may not have elsewhere'. The abstract noun 'freedom' fits after 'a feeling of' — a common note-completion pattern where the blank asks for an emotional or abstract quality rather than a concrete object.

8. 'Children learn new ___ and gain self-confidence.' The plural noun 'skills' pairs with 'learn new' and 'gain self-confidence' as parallel benefits of outdoor education.

9. 'Practical issues — cost per child: £___.' The blank needs a number in pounds; '4.95' is the price, formatted with a decimal point since the pound sign is already given — listen for a monetary figure such as 'four pounds ninety-five'.

10. 'Adults, such as ___, free.' The plural noun 'leaders' names which adults get free entry — group leaders or teachers accompanying the children, as opposed to parents or other adult categories.

11. The stem asks what members 'especially enjoyed' during the visit to Malatte. The answer is B, 'experiencing a river trip' — the stem singles out one standout activity, and B is the one framed as the highlight, while A (theme park) and C (cheese factory) are plausible but not the confirmed favourite. Listen for enthusiastic language ('really enjoyed', 'the best part was') attached to the correct option.

12. The stem asks what will happen to mark the 25th anniversary. The answer is A, 'a tree will be planted' — presented as the actual plan, while B (garden seat) and C (footbridge) read like alternative ideas that were considered before the final decision was confirmed.

13. The stem asks which event 'raised most funds this year'. The answer is B, 'the pancake evening' — listen for a comparison between the fundraising events (film show, pancake evening, cookery demonstration) where the pancake evening is confirmed as the top earner.

14. The stem asks what host families are advised to do on the first evening. The answer is C, 'have a meal at home' — a simple, low-key first-evening choice, distinguished from a restaurant outing (B) or a town walk (A), which may be suggested for other days instead.

15. The stem asks what's happening on Saturday evening. The answer is A, 'listen to a concert' — listen for the specific evening activity named for Saturday, as opposed to B and C, which may relate to other days or optional activities.

16. This is a map-labelling item: 'Farm shop' corresponds to point G on the plan. These questions are answered by following the speaker's route description (turns, landmarks) around the site; use the map image together with the guide's step-by-step directions to confirm each letter matches its feature.

17. 'Disabled entry' corresponds to point C on the plan — as with all map labels here, this is fixed by the described route around Farley House rather than by any written clue, so match it against the image using the sequence of directions.

18. 'Adventure playground' corresponds to point B on the plan — locate this feature by tracking the walking route described for the site tour and matching each stop to its letter.

19. 'Kitchen gardens' corresponds to point D on the plan — place this by following the described sequence of directions across the map.

20. 'The Temple of the Four Winds' corresponds to point A on the plan — typically a landmark stop on this kind of route; match it against the map image using the described directions.

21–22. The question asks which TWO things Colin found most satisfying about his bread reuse project. The correct options are B ('finding a good way to prevent waste') and D ('experimenting with designs and colours') — positive, creative/practical satisfactions, distinguished from A (external support), C (overcoming basic problems) and E (3-D printing), which are related but not the two confirmed. For 'choose TWO letters' items, listen for both points being confirmed positively, often signalled by agreement between the speakers.

23–24. The question asks which TWO ways the students agree touch-sensitive sensors for food labels could be developed in future. The correct options are A ('for use on medical products') and E ('to indicate the weight of certain foods') — distinguished from B, C and D, which describe other plausible but unconfirmed development ideas. Listen for both speakers agreeing on the same two future uses.

25. The trend 'Use of local products' is matched to opinion D, 'Retailers should do more to encourage this' — the comment concerns retailer/shop behaviour rather than safety, cost or public awareness, distinguishing it from the other seven opinions in the box.

26. 'Reduction in unnecessary packaging' is matched to G, 'There should be stricter regulations about this' — framed as needing stronger rules, not simply retailer encouragement or public awareness.

27. 'Gluten-free and lactose-free food' is matched to C, 'This already seems to be widespread' — the opinion is that this trend is already common, distinct from opinions about needing more support or regulation.

28. 'Use of branded products related to celebrity chefs' is matched to B, 'This may have disappointing results' — a sceptical opinion about outcomes, distinct from opinions about popularity or safety.

29. 'Development of ghost kitchens for takeaway food' is matched to F, 'Most people know little about this' — the comment centres on low public awareness of this newer trend, not on regulation or danger.

30. 'Use of mushrooms for common health concerns' is matched to H, 'This could be dangerous' — a cautionary opinion, distinguishing it from the more neutral or positive comments attached to the other trends.

31. 'stones beneath the bog surface were once ___'. The answer 'walls' is the noun completing what a local teacher realised the stones once formed — remnants of ancient field boundaries, discovered in the 1930s.

32. 'His ___ became an archaeologist and undertook an investigation of the site.' The answer 'son' names the family relationship — the teacher's son later carried out the archaeological study.

33. 'a traditional method used by local people to dig for ___ was used to identify where stones were located.' The answer 'fuel' names what locals traditionally dug the bog for (peat as fuel); this digging method helped locate the buried stones.

34. 'Items are well preserved in the bog because of a lack of ___.' The answer 'oxygen' is the standard reason bogs preserve organic material — low oxygen slows decay.

35. 'Neolithic farmers — houses were ___ in shape and had a hole in the roof.' The answer 'rectangular' describes the house shape, distinct from round or square.

36. 'Neolithic innovations include cooking indoors and pots used for storage and to make ___.' The answer 'lamps' names the second use of the pots, alongside storage.

37. 'Each field at Céide was large enough to support a big ___.' The answer 'family' — the note describes field size in terms of how many people it could support.

38. 'no evidence of structures to house them during ___.' The answer 'winter' — the season during which animals would need shelter, supporting the theory that fields were used to restrict grazing rather than for permanent animal housing.

39. 'Reasons for the decline in farming — a decline in ___ quality.' The answer 'soil' — declining soil quality is cited as a cause of the farming decline at the site.

40. 'an increase in ___.' The answer 'rain' — increased rainfall is the second cited cause of the farming decline, paired with declining soil quality.